Improvement in water-feeders for locomotive-tenders



M. N. LYNN.

Water-Feeders for Locomotive Tenders.

N0 148 892, Patented March 24,1874.

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UNITED STATES A'IENT FFICE.

MIRABEAU N. LYNN, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

I IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-FEEDERS FOR LOCOMOTlVE-TENDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,892, dated March 24, 1874; application filed August 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MIRABEAU N. LYNN, of New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented a new and ImprovedWater-Feeder for Locomotive-Tenders, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of the invention consists of a jointed arrangement of the spout, of peculiar construction, to adapt it for swinging laterally to the well in the tender, in case the latter does not stand directly in front of the spout, and thus sz ve the adjusting of the tender so exactly as is now required, and which it is difficult to do. The second part of this invention consists of a float open to the water below, and closed to the air at the top, with a pipe to admit air to the surface of the water in the interior space, so that the water will not be prevented by atmospheric pressure from flowing out through the spout when the surface is inclosed air-tight by a strong cover of ice.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus, taken on the line 00 a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is partly a top view and partly a horizontal section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the spout.

A represents the cistern or tank, for the supply of the tender. B and 13 represent the spout, which projects inside of the tank, and has a large vertical extension, 0, below to admit the water to the spout, with a valve, D, for closing it. The spout has also a vertical tubular extension, E, above, reaching above the surface of the water, and the valve-rod F is placed within it, so as to be protected from the ice at the surface of the water, which would hold it fast if it passed through the water, as it does in some cases.

The siphonic action of the spout prevents the water from rising in the tube.

The two sections of the water-spout are joined together at G, as usual, to allow of raising and lowering the part B but, to allow the said part B to swing laterally, in case it is necessary to bring the nozzle to the well of the tender, I make it in two parts, and connect them by a short section of expanding and con- 'tracting bellows-shaped contrivance, (represented at H,) capable of lengthening at one side and shortening at the other, as required, to allow the necessary lateral movement of the nozzle, and for holding it horizontally. I also connect the two parts by the bars K L, so jointed together as to admit of the lateral movement, but so as to prevent vertical movement.

The contrivance for admitting air under the ice, so that the water can run out freely at the spout, consists of an inverted tub, J, inclosing an air-inflated float, M, having a space, N, and a pipe, 0, fitted in the bottom of the tub to admit air to the space N. The pipe 0 is bent downward in the upper part to prevent it from filling with snow. The surface of the water under the float will be protected from the cold so as to not freeze, and being open to the atmosphere, through the pipe 0, the obstruction to the outflow of water by atmospheric pressure will be avoided. It will be noticed that, in consequence of the vent afforded by the pipe E, there is no suction upon the valve D, in addition to the weight of the water, as in the common arrangement, so that it is not subject to the severe concussions of such valves in closing, and is thereby protected from the wear caused by the shocks, which very soon causes the common valves to leak, whereas mine keep tight.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the flexible joint H and the jointed bars K L with the spout B B, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a railroad supply water-tank,of aventilating-float, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the inverted tub J, float M, and pipe O,subst-antially as specified.

MIR-ABEAU N. LYNN. Witnesses;

J. RWA'rrs, (J. A. SEHLBREDE. 

